Room for Structure, Not for Drama

In some professional environments - such as the legal field - facts, logic, and structure form the foundation of daily work. Emotions are not ignored, but consciously kept in the background. There is a clear distinction between the personal and the professional - not out of coldness, but out of respect for the task, the client, and the process.

In other sectors, such as government organizations, the dynamic is fundamentally different. People from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and motivations work together, and in policy and operational roles, emotions often play a much bigger - and sometimes invisible - part. Uncertainties, personal convictions, or group interests can influence decision-making, whether consciously or not.

For those who are task-oriented, analytical, and rational by nature, this can feel chaotic or even unprofessional. Working in a culture dominated by subjectivity, assumptions, or unconscious group dynamics becomes draining when you're used to clarity, distance, and results-driven thinking.

It's not that you can't function in emotionally charged environments. Rather, it's that this way of working - where emotions are rarely separated from decisions - doesn't always align with those who prioritize logic, progress, and professional objectivity. That creates friction. And it doesn't have to.

The solution is not to reshape yourself at the expense of your core strengths. The solution is to consciously choose a work environment that recognizes and values your way of thinking and acting — where professionalism means emotions are acknowledged, but don't take the lead.

The Role of Emotional Hygiene

Emotions absolutely have a place at work - to a certain degree. Engagement, enthusiasm, empathy, and even healthy doubt make us human and can enrich an open and connected work culture.

But destructive or unregulated emotions - such as resentment, jealousy, passive-aggressive behavior, or the acting out of personal frustrations - are harmful. They undermine collaboration, cloud communication, and obstruct mature decision-making.

That's why emotional hygiene is an essential skill in every professional context. It doesn't mean suppressing feelings, but consciously managing them:

• Recognizing what you feel, and why;

• Understanding when it's appropriate to share emotions;

• Knowing how to deal with emotional triggers professionally;

• And above all: taking responsibility for your own internal state.

Organizations thrive when people operate with both rationality and emotional maturity. Not by being emotionless, but by staying clear-headed.

As an organizational architect, I believe in building workplace cultures where structure, clarity, and professional conduct are the standard — without sacrificing humanity. In such a culture, there is room for emotion, as long as it doesn't override reason, facts, or collaboration.

That's not a limitation.
That's maturity.